Torres treble fires Barca to vital win at Betis / Photo: CRISTINA QUICLER - AFP
-
Anscombe issues Fiji warning as Wales bid to end losing streak
-
The Trump dynasty soon to be America's 'first family'
-
Trump mass deportation pledge faces legal, economic barriers
-
UK's Prince William awards climate prizes in S.Africa
-
Curry adamant 'no excuses' for England ahead of Australia match
-
Postecoglou backs Spurs to handle hostile reception at Galatasaray
-
Mings' bizarre penalty blunder sinks Villa in defeat at Brugge
-
UN says Gaza polio vaccination campaign complete
-
Esterhuizen promises no let-up from Springboks
-
Estehuizen promises no let-up from Springboks
-
Olympic champion Zheng moves into last four of WTA Finals, Sabalenka loses
-
Boxer Imane Khelif takes legal action over gender reports
-
Brazil must act on probe into UK journalist's murder: media watchdog
-
Dempsey eager for Scotland's 'ultimate test' against South Africa
-
Neymar sidelined four to six weeks with hamstring tear
-
New reality for US as Trump crushes Harris
-
As Musk's big Trump bet pays off, US government faces 'hardcore' reform
-
New Zealand's McKenzie and Aumua to start against Ireland
-
German band in global 'mystery song' hunt stunned by late success
-
Republicans hope Trump sweep will give party full power in Congress
-
US states extend abortion rights; Florida, S.Dakota measures fail
-
Hezbollah says tens of thousands of fighters ready to battle Israel
-
Mexico girds for tariffs, migrant deportations after Trump win
-
Olympic champion Zheng moves into last four of WTA Finals
-
US Fed expected to look beyond Trump win and cut rates again
-
Son of ex-global athletics chief Diack to face new trial
-
Spain's young flood helpers smash 'snowflake' stereotype
-
Wall Street smashes records, dollar soars as Trump wins
-
Israelis in Jerusalem see Trump return as 'God's plan'
-
'We don't feel safe': Serbians lash out after fatal roof collapse
-
Van Nistelrooy says no contact with new Man Utd boss Amorim
-
Farrell recalls experienced trio for All Blacks Test
-
Kremlin says will judge Trump by his 'actions' on Ukraine
-
The MAGA galaxy that will follow Trump to the White House
-
What impact will Trump have on the world economy?
-
Cuba braces for Hurricane Rafael
-
Chelsea are 'one team' despite rotations, says Maresca
-
Robinson says upcoming Tests 'massive' for Feyi-Waboso's Lions' hopes
-
'Save us': Gazans want Trump to end war with Israel
-
Pakistan's Punjab province shuts schools in smog-hit main cities
-
Spain seizes largest-ever cocaine haul
-
McIlroy hopes Trump election victory helps end golf rift
-
Low taxes, high tariffs: What a Trump victory means for the US economy
-
Germany's Scholz tells Trump: 'We're better off together'
-
What's going wrong at Man City?
-
Lebanon files UN complaint against Israel over pager attacks
-
Man City told to pay majority of Mendy's unpaid wages
-
'Going to be rough': NATO braces for Trump's return
-
UniCredit says needs a year to decide Commerzbank deal
-
Madrid heading for crisis with Kroos gone and Mbappe floundering
NYSE - LSE
| RIO | -0.19% | 65.375 | $ | |
| CMSC | -0.51% | 24.554 | $ | |
| BCC | 2.1% | 141.46 | $ | |
| JRI | -0.42% | 13.215 | $ | |
| RBGPF | 4.94% | 64.17 | $ | |
| BTI | 0.63% | 35.685 | $ | |
| BCE | -1.18% | 28.505 | $ | |
| RYCEF | 2.41% | 7.48 | $ | |
| SCS | 6.03% | 13.11 | $ | |
| CMSD | -0.84% | 24.832 | $ | |
| NGG | -2.01% | 64.18 | $ | |
| GSK | -3.13% | 35.895 | $ | |
| RELX | -0.52% | 47.66 | $ | |
| VOD | -0.85% | 9.331 | $ | |
| AZN | -3.7% | 63.905 | $ | |
| BP | 0.73% | 30.181 | $ |
Torres treble fires Barca to vital win at Betis
Ferran Torres hit a hat-trick to inspire Barcelona to a thrilling 4-2 win over Real Betis on Sunday in La Liga and keep the champions in the title race.
Torres' double put Barca ahead but they surrendered their two-goal lead as former Real Madrid playmaker Isco struck a brace of his own.
Joao Felix finished deftly in the 90th minute and Torres netted again to secure victory for the Catalans, who trail league leaders Madrid by seven points after Los Blancos scraped a 3-2 win over bottom side Almeria.
Girona, second, aim to reclaim top spot when they welcome Sevilla at Montilivi stadium later Sunday.
Barcelona handed young defender Pau Cubarsi his first start and along with Lamine Yamal, lined up with two 16-year-olds in the team.
The Catalans played well in the first half and controlled the game, a cut above their recent outings including the thrashing by Real Madrid last weekend in the Spanish Super Cup final.
Betis did create one clear chance early on, with the magisterial Isco scooping a ball through for Luiz Henrique, but his lobbed effort beat Inaki Pena and the crossbar.
Torres put Barcelona ahead with a simple finish from Pedri's cut-back after Ilkay Gundogan's deflected pass found the midfielder in the area.
Robert Lewandowski, on a quiet afternoon for the former Bayern Munich striker, netted just before the break but it was disallowed for offside.
Torres doubled Barcelona's lead two minutes into the second half after the exciting Yamal drove to the byline and crossed for the Spain international.
However Isco soon pulled Betis level with a quick-fire brace.
The former Real Madrid playmaker rifled home after Pena only half-cleared a cross in the 56th minute and then timed his run well and cleverly hooked home Henrique's pass under three minutes later.
Xavi reacted by taking off veteran forward Robert Lewandowski for Brazilian starlet Vitor Roque, recently arrived from Athletico Paranaense.
Betis winger Henrique rampaged forward and nearly made Barcelona pay on the counter but flashed a shot narrowly wide.
The hosts were made to pay when substitute Felix produced a superb finish to give Barcelona the lead in the 90th minute and Torres made the game safe after Yamal sent him through.
Xavi, under pressure in recent weeks, celebrated vigorously as Barcelona showed they will not relinquish their crown without a fight.
M.Thompson--AMWN